Don Imus’ statement was sexist too

Regardless of whether Don Imus is racist or sexist, just the mere fact that he felt the need to call some college girls “nappy-headed hos” is sufficient reason to fire him.

I saw him on the Today Show this morning claiming he was not a racist. That much seemed genuine enough. However, society has to draw the line on racist and sexist speech if we are to ever reach true racial and gender equality.

Although it was slow in coming, Imus seemed to grasp the hurt he caused those girls with his careless words while on the Today Show this morning. However, it is clear that an example needs to be made concerning racist and sexism speech – and Imus is a perfect candidate. If he loses his job over this, perhaps the next shock jock will think twice about using this type of degrading speech.

Moreover, his firing would send a message to society as a whole – a message that clearly needs to be made.

Curtailing free speech because you do not like what you hear is NOT the American way. Why would Voltaire, who never had the freedom, understand it so much better than we Americans.

I do not agree with the Imus statements anymore than I agree with much of what I hear from politicans, nmovie stars, hate bloggers, love bloggers, et al. But I learn from them and having counter balances to check our own beliefs is a good thing

2.jesse | April 10, 2007 at 4:54 pm

He’s free to say whatever he wants,but the fact that he’s trying to be funny and didn’t work makes it embarrassing

Stellar1,
Claiming you aren’t racist and then spouting the most racist comment imaginable is like those good ole boys saying they love women dearly while correcting your wife through an ass-whoopin.’ Free speech my ass. He should be fired just as Rush Limbaugh was fired from Monday Night Football for saying “”I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL,” Limbaugh said. “The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well … McNabb got a lot of the credit for the performance of the team that he really didn’t deserve.”

Stellar1,
I didn’t have time to finish my thought before I posted and was responding more or less to Dick and Jesse. I agree with you 100%. The point is the hurt they caused those women playing basketball at Rutgers not the issue of free speech.

I completely agree. His “joke” was both racist and sexist to a group of honorable and talented women. I am a big supporter of free speech, but when a company does not fire someone for their discriminating statements, that means they are standing behind them – especially when they are a repeat offender such as Imus. There needs to be a point where morals come into play with freedom of speech if the person is on a public radio show.

I’m sort of on the fence on this one. Clearly the man has issues with both race and sex, but what would firing him really accomplish? I don’t think it will deter anyone from saying those sorts of degrading things. However, in the interest of truly serving him a slice of humble pie, there has to be a way to get him (and others who make similar statements) to understand the severity of the situation. Firing him would only serve as a catalyst to other’s who are on the “free speech” bandwagon of this issue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for freedom of speech, but not when it comes at the expense of others. I’m just really torn on whether he should be fired for what he said. He made a colossal mistake, as many, MANY others have done. And I find it hard to criticize him too harshly when his biggest foe’s at the moment have made mistakes much, much more severe.

MSNBC announced that it will no longer simulcast the Don Imus show. I feel like I could dance all day long. This sets the stage for implementing higher standards in the way radio shows, television programs and musical lyrics speak about race and gender.

Today, the human race took a huge step forward for equal rights.

It is high time this type of rubbish was challenged by right thinking members of society. I advocate free speech, but anyone who has ever taken a college class in journalism knows that not all speech is protected by law. The hurtful and careless words of shock jocks, like Imus, and those in the entertainment industry should no be allowed to infiltrate society at large.

It is our responsibility as citizens of the world to insist that statements like “nappy-headed hos” is not allowed to cross the airwaves and be broadcast into our homes via any type of media.

This is one day in which I am actually proud to be part of the human race.

Hopefully it doesn’t stop with the canning of Imus. I would love to see women stand up against how they’re portrayed in modern day music (especially RAP). As Imus stated, his comments did not originate with him.

I’m ok with races poking fun of their own race and using derogatory terms about themselves. However, for a male to refer to women as bitches and ho’s consistently in their music is disrespectful and should solicit the same outrage from the community as Imus’ statement.